Epidemiologic Study of Nosocomial Bacterial Infection of Pediatric Patients at BMA Medical College and

Background: Nosocomial infection is a global public health problem, particularly by multi-drug resistant bacteria, increasing morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. The distribution of pathogens and antimicro-bial sensitivity patterns change with time and vary among hospitals. Objective: To determine and compare the bacterial pathogens causing nosocomial infections in pediatric patients and their susceptibility patterns between January 2000-December 2002 and January 2003-Decem-ber 2005. Material and Method: The bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibilities of children diagnosed as nosocomial infections at BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital between January 2000- December 2002 and January 2003- December 2005 were comparatively analyzed. Results: 1,863 and 1,884 isolates were identified in 2000-2002 and 2003-2005, respectively. The common sites of infections were bloodstream (28.6%), lower respiratory tract (15.3%), skin and soft tissue (14.9%), and urinary tract (12.5%). The major isolated gram positive pathogens were S. aureus, coagulase negative Staphylococcus and Enterococus. The major gram negative pathogens were E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumo-niae, Enterobacter spp. and Acinetobacter spp. Compared between 2000-2002 and 2003-2005, methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was decreased from 4.3 % to 1.5 % P. aeruginosa from 13.3 % to 7.5%, Enterobacte